Retro Replay Retro Gaming History, Reviews & Emulation
Snake Eater asks you to worry about camouflage, stamina and whatever might be hiding in the grass. Apparently, somebody also had to worry about how Snake looked walking away. Even his backside got some attention during development. Snake got that cake!
WIRED’s November 2004 profile described Kojima making sure Snake had a “nice butt” for the rear view. Kojima quickly added: “I’m married, with a son.” Then came the instruction: “Put that in boldface, all caps.”
The least secret part of the mission
Fair enough, Hideo. THE FAMILY-MAN REMINDER HAS BEEN RECEIVED. It’s the follow-up that makes this so funny. He’s discussing a small design choice, realizes how it might sound, and immediately asks the writer to bring out the capital letters.
Metal Gear has always been comfortable letting a ridiculous moment interrupt a serious one. This time, the interview did the work for it. You don’t need to dress up the joke much when the director has already supplied the punchline.
Snake’s whole body was part of the interface
You do spend plenty of time watching Snake move through the jungle. You see him lower himself into the grass, crouch beside a tree and get up when you think the coast is clear. His uniform and movements become as familiar as the paths you’re sneaking along.
There’s a practical side to all that watching, too. Konami’s camouflage guide explains how face paint, clothing and posture affect the Camo Index. Lying still gives you better concealment than standing and running. Sometimes the smartest move is to settle down and wait.
Which makes the joke even better. Snake is doing everything he can to avoid being noticed, while you’re sitting there staring at him. A patrol might walk right past. The player gets a much longer look.
A jungle full of small demands
The jungle keeps giving you other things to think about. As the original Konami game-system page explains, low stamina makes aiming and healing harder. You need food, suitable cover and a plan for anyone who gets close enough to force a fight.
That’s what makes Snake feel so present in these spaces. You watch him settle into cover, edge toward danger and change position when a hiding place stops feeling safe. Even before you check a gauge, you’re paying attention to what he’s doing.
And yes, there’s still room to laugh at the man on screen. You can take the next patrol seriously and enjoy a silly detail at the same time. That combination feels right at home in Metal Gear, cake and all.
Tactical espionage, from every angle
The design anecdote is good. Kojima asking for his family status in bold capitals is better. He could have let the conversation move on, but instead gave the story the line everyone would remember.
Sources
- Tim Rogers, WIRED: Jungle Fervor, November 2004, for the design anecdote and Kojima’s family-man response.
- Konami’s MGS3 camouflage manual, for clothing, face paint, posture and the Camo Index.
- Konami’s original MGS3 game-system page, for the survival and close-combat systems.
- Hideo Kojima portrait by Nic Fillingham, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Retro Replay’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater database entry, for the original PS2 cover and screenshot.
